Hot Wheels' new AR track turns toy racing into a warzone

The Stream Team: Lull in the storm edition, December 3 - 9, 2013

From horror movies to storms, there is always a lull before the stuff really hits the fan. And right now is the lull in the storm that is holiday preparation. It's just a short span of time that offers a breather between the insanity that is Black Friday and the rush of all else that comes with the season, so take advantage of it! Before all the decorating, holiday parties, shopping, cooking, and everything else, settle back and watch some Massively TV!

While you relax and enjoy your lull, The Stream Team will treat you to a bit of beta action, some heroic antics, plenty of shooting, and possibly even the final moments of one title. Then, if you can muster the energy for it, share your favorite relaxation ritual. Can you guess one of mine?

5:00 p.m. EST: Beau -- Star StableDo you love horses? Were you one of those kids in school who did nothing but draw horses and hang horse posters on your wall, dreaming of one day owning a horse? Well, even though you could never afford one, you can watch Beau play this horse-centric MMO. Join him in the chat as he explores a mysterious island filled with all sorts of horses. Let out your inner tween!7:00 p.m. EST: Mike -- EVE OnlineAnother month, another opportunity to take a lowbie character with zero skills out into the darkest, most dangerous areas of space. That's right, stream fans: It's time for another cannonball run into null-sec. Can Mike navigate the dangers of open space in his rookie ship, or will he be blown to smithereens?

10:00 p.m. EST: Dylan "GGraves" -- DotA 2Prepare for rage, Massively fans, when Dylan dives deep into DotA 2 for a look at recent gameplay additions and patches. Join in the chatroom and discuss the differences between DotA 2, Heroes of Newerth, League of Legends, and other popular MOBA titles. Some call them MOBAs; some call them "Lane Pushing Games." We call them fun!

5:00 p.m EST: Beau -- GlitchAs he's taking in more Glitch before it closes, what will Beau look at this time? Well, it's hard to say; there are just too many options. More than likely he'll wander around and cry as he realizes it will all be over soon.8:00 p.m. & 9:00 p.m. EST: MJ -- EverQuest IIWhat's an anniversary without a celebration? This EverQuest Two-sday MJ will take you through the quests and collect the goodies from the Heroes Festival, EQII's anniversary celebration. Bring your toons -- old or new -- to the cities for rewards you can get only once a year.

1:15 p.m. EST: Blake -- SMITELunchtime Livecast #43 is here, and SMITE is back with another content patch. Hi-Rez threw down a ton of balance changes this week, including a major redesign to Cupid. Should Hi-Rez redesign the Conquest map to be more like other MOBAs' maps? Blake certainly has his opinion, and you're welcome to share yours during the show.

5:00 p.m. EST: MJ -- AionShe needs 57 to start getting into the higher dungeons, and with a future level cap increase already announced, MJ needs to get her grind on. Join her as she quests through Sarpan and Tiamaranta to soak up some XP.

7:00 p.m. EST: Mike -- PlanetSide 2Mike is bad at first-person shooters, which makes Sony Online Entertainment's PlanetSide 2 a terrible choice for him to play. But he's going to do it anyway and suffer the embarrassing deaths it guarantees for your amusement. Tune in and watch the sparks fly (mostly into Mike's face), or play along and try to help Mike stay alive.

9:00 p.m. EST: MJ -- VanguardLord Tsang's, take two! That's right -- his dungeon is not going to beat MJ. Of course, it might go even better if a full group can charge it this time. *hint hint* Come watch or join in as MJ and special guest star Jeremy continue last week's adventure.

10:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. EST: Richie -- Guild Wars 2Wintersday approaches Tyria, and Richie is doing a two-hour Guild Wars 2 livestream to get prepared. Instead of fighting crowds of shoppers, however, he'll be laying the smackdown to throngs of grawl, risen, and dredge. Join him and his motley band as they run dungeons, explore zones, and seek ever more impressive shinies.2:00 p.m. EST: Elisabeth -- Guild Wars 2Zhaitan has sent scouts to Lion's Arch; that means his army is on its way! Join Lis and her Charr Necromancer as they prepare to fight in defense of Claw Island.

6:00 p.m. EST: Mike -- Pirate101Mike ventures back into the family-friendly world of Pirate101 with dreams of fitting his massive pirate ship and taking over the high skies. Will he emerge a victorious pirate, or is he doomed to be a land-lubber for all eternity?

7:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. EST: MJ -- The Secret WorldHave your brain cells been sleeping lately? Then wake them up with an investigation mission! Join MJ as she delves into Stangers from a Strange Land. With your help in game and in chat, she might even survive!

You know all those chores around the house? They are still there; what you do with them now is up to you. Just don't neglect your favorite MMOs too long, or they might get lonely!

9:00 p.m. EST: Dylan "GGraves" -- Star Wars: The Old RepublicThe finale in this series of Star Wars coverage is upon us. Join "GGraves" as he finishes questing on Balmorra and digs deeper into the mysteries behind the Jedi Prisoner. Hop in the chatroom and discuss PvE, lore, and flashpoints with Dylan and other Massively viewers!10:00 p.m. EST: Beau -- GlitchBeau is going to be there as the doors close on Glitch forever. What will happen in these final hours? Who knows, but you can be sure that Beau will get it all on film! Catch him and some members of the Tiny Speck team as they wait for the final hour!

A lull means you have tons of extra time on your hands, right? Of course it does! So now is the perfect time to catch up on any streams you missed over the last week. There's an assortment of raids, PUGs, and even a sad sunsetting.

Time to just kick back and relax seems pretty rare, but there are certain rituals that can help boost your relaxation mojo even while you're getting something done. While there are certainly some non-gaming activities that fit the bill (hint: bubble baths and laptops do not mix!), I actually find ways to chill and slough off the stress right in MMOs. Harvesting, in particular, is one of my all-time favorite ways to relax. Outside of the realm of pixels, I would have to say dancing in the rain tops the charts.

How about you? What are your favorite things to do to unwind, either in-game or out? Share in the comments below, and check out the rituals of your fellow gamers.

Watching the Massively Stream Team play video games is the next best thing to playing them yourself! Join us every Monday morning for MJ's guide to this week's livestream schedule, classic stream reruns from last week, and all the best outtakes and ephemera.